Have you ever found yourself in one of the following situations as a business leader or manager? 

• Your to-do-list is so long that you don’t even know where to start.  
• A new company enters the market and the competition is tight. 
• You have a sudden health-related issue. 
• Your team lacks productivity in terms of workload. 

Any of these circumstances can make you feel stressed, anxious, or even frustrated. Over time, pressure and stress can make you less efficient, less productive, and more unresponsive, which can lead to even more tension. If you’re stressed out as a manager or leader, that stress is likely to affect your entire team leading to overall failure. 

It can be tough enough to deal with your own stress. But how can you, as a manager, help your team members control their stress and anxiety, burn-out, or disengagement? 

In this article, we’ll walk you through the different steps you can take to help your team cope with stress and anger, therefore creating a much more stable and happier working environment in which both you and your team can strive. 👇

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”  – Stephen Covey

– Opt for Meditation Classes

What better way to help your employees loosen up than to bring them tranquility? According to an article in the Harvard Business Review, many CEOs are taking meditation and finding new ways to engage their employees, because they have seen immediate benefits. 

In a time when so many of us are spending a large part of our lives at work, the office may possibly be the easiest and most convenient place to incorporate meditation into our schedules. 

As we practice meditation and become more familiar with negative thoughts and feelings that occur due to stressful circumstances, as faced with stress and difficulties which can be especially useful in the workplace, we learn how to respond calmly, thoughtfully, and empathically. 

In particular, meditation can minimize neuronal links to the medial prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that is responsible for fear, tension, and anxiety — while developing new pathways to the parts of the brain that are responsible for focusing and making decisions.

How can you meditate?➡️ Lie down on the floor and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and focus on each breath as you inhale and exhale. In time, you’ll learn that the more you practice, the less distracted you’ll be. 

– Encourage Taking Breaks

Think about your office and your environment for a minute. Is it filled with people being stuck to their phones or computer screens? Should they be having lunch or enjoy a few minutes off? Do you feel like they only leave their desks to go to the restroom? 

Some people have even said that they feel “guilty” leaving their desks, or that they simply have “too much work” to get away. Granted, you can’t force employees to take a break, but you can look at the culture of your workplace that is responsible for creating these feelings.

In today’s digital world, technology helps us to be more versatile in how we interact, and how and where we work; which has many benefits. The problem is that being linked 24/7 often makes it difficult to maintain a proper work/life balance and can impair dedication and efficiency in the workplace as well.

Most employees make the mistake of not disconnecting themselves from their gadgets while taking breaks, which can reduce the quality of break time and the opportunity to recover. Encourage staff to take their minds off from work and reap the benefits of it. 

– Practice Mindfulness 

Five minutes can make a huge difference in your day. Focusing on your breathing is one of the best ways you can engage in mindfulness meditation. Make sure you sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take natural, rhythmic breaths. Bring your attention to your hands as they rest on your legs. Scan your body from head to toe, stopping to recognize areas of tension and relaxation. 

Get out of the office, and go deep inside yourself. Standing still, bring your attention to your feet, ankles, legs, knees, quads, and hips. Begin walking slowly and really recognize what it feels like to walk-how many moving parts are engaged in every single step. Synchronize your breath with every step you take. 

The same goes for when you’re having lunch too. Notice the smell of food, the way it looks, and the multiplicity of its flavors. Bring your awareness of what it feels like to chew and swallow. Give yourself permission to be fully present whether you’re eating or having a conversation with a coworker. 

As we meditate,  the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which can positively affect a variety of stress-related biomarkers including lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and fewer increases in the stress hormone cortisol. 

Further research showed that meditation decreased aggression by 57% and irritability by 27%. If your team suffers from a lack of confidence and poor communication, meditation may help turn things around.

Bottom Line

Seek some of our suggestions if you feel like stress and pressure is holding you back. You may be shocked at the difference it can make in your attitude, and your team’s satisfaction and productivity.

Do you resonate with today’s fast-paced world? Do you feel like the time for you to relax has come? Hit the pause button and reconnect to your inner self. Embrace change as it strengthens your ability to work and function adequately. 
Feel free to contact us at your convenience. We’d love to hear from you. 🧘

EMBRACE Change, IMPROVE Me, RENEW All